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To celebrate this year’s 100th Day of School, KLRU-TV, Austin PBS, hosted a Peg + Cat-themed special event at Uphaus EC Center, Perez Elementary and Widen Elementary on February 5 and February 10, 2014. Through this initiative, KLRU awarded each campus a media lab that included an assortment of educational materials, games, activities, a Kindle Fire to access PBS digital content on, and a PEG + CAT hop-scotch rug. The multimedia content includes video clips, digital and hands-on games and activities, and tools to connect home and school. These resources are available at pbskids.org/learn. In all, over 355 children and 32 adults participated.

These three Dove Springs public school campuses were selected in part because the Onion Creek floods of this winter had affected them and their families. Each campus dedicated time in the library and in the classroom for their 1st grade or Kindergarten classes to rotate through a series of centers themed around the number 100 — jumping 100 times using hula hoops, making bracelets by counting beads by groups of 10, playing a Peg + Cat pizza game, playing the Peg + Cat app, watch Peg + Cat video clips. Each child was also able to share with their family more fun activities by taking home the Peg + Cat activity sheet. All campuses were delighted with the 100th Day Celebration and plan on scheduling it again next school year!

KLRU chooses three programs each month for your family to enjoy together but February 2014 is Black History Month and to celebrate, we will broadcast a lineup of 18 programs and events honoring and exploring African American culture.

Click on the link below to delve into rich African American Heritage resources including local stories on civil rights, desegregation and more.

LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER “New York Philharmonic Gala with Yo-Yo Ma”
Tuesday, December 31st at 7 pm.Special guest cello soloist Yo-Yo Ma joins maestro Alan Gilbert and the New York Philharmonic for a festive celebration of dance-inspired orchestral music. Highlights include a performance of a work expressly written for Ma by Osvaldo Golijov, one of the world’s most celebrated living composers, and a stunning interpretation of Ravel’s beloved Bolero.

NOVA “Zeppelins”Wednesday, January 15 at 8 pm.This is the untold story of the biggest flying machines ever made: Germany’s war zeppelins, which rained down death on British towns for two and a half terrifying years during World War I. In hands-on experiments, NOVA uncovers how the zeppelins were built and flown, and goes inside the desperate scramble to take down the zeppelins and make the streets of Britain safe again.

NATURE “Meet the Coywolf”Wednesday, January 22 at 7 pm.The coywolf, a mixture of western coyote and eastern wolf, is a hauntingly beautiful carnivore found increasingly on the streets of North American cities. Its appearance is very recent — within the last 90 years — in evolutionary terms, a blip in time. The story of how it came to be begins in Canada but by no means ends there. It is an extraordinary tale of how quickly adaptation and evolution can occur, especially when humans interfere. New York wildlife biologist Roland Kay is fascinated by this new hybrid, the product of a shifting gene pool that is now stabilizing. Kays tracks and photographs coywolves with remote motion sensor cameras, collects road kill and scat and obtains tissue and bone samples from fur trappers, hunters and others to unravel the mysteries that define this new species.

Normally, KLRU chooses three programs each month for your family to enjoy together. In December 2013, we will have incredible family viewing opportunities for the holidays — be sure to check in for holiday programming without the holiday commercials!

The African Americans: Many Rivers To CrossTuesdays, November 5, 12, 19 & 26 at 7pm(series repeats Sundays at 2:30pm)
This series chronicles the full sweep of African American history, from the origins of slavery on the African continent through five centuries of historic events right up to present day — when America has a black President, yet remains a nation deeply divided by race. It explores the origins of the people from Africa whose enslavement led to the creation of the African American people, as well as the multiplicity of cultural institutions, political strategies, and religious and social perspectives that African Americans have developed against unimaginable odds. All of these elements define black culture and society in its extraordinarily rich and compelling diversity from slavery to freedom, from the plantation to the White House. Hosted by Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr., and drawing on some of America’s top historians and heretofore untapped primary sources, the series guides viewers on a journey across 500 years and two continents to shed new light on the experience of being an African American.

NATURE’S “Parrot Confidential”Wednesday, November 13 at 7pm
Meet Lou. Abandoned in a foreclosed home, Lou is one of thousands of parrots in need of rescue. From the wilds of Costa Rica to suburban America, a loveable, quirky cast of parrots reveal their unforgettable tales and the bittersweet world they share with humans. Their outrageous intelligence and uncanny ability to communicate in any language has made parrots one of the world’s most popular pets. But unlike dogs and cats, parrots have not been domesticated. Hard wired for the wild, their ear-shattering squawks and unpredictable behavior are designed for the rain forest, not the suburbs. Add a lifespan of 50 plus years to their intense need to bond and a life in captivity often ends in disaster. With shelters and sanctuaries bursting at the seams, too many birds like Lou have no place to go.

NATURE’s Thanksgiving Eve broadcast
Wednesday, November 27, from 7-10pm“My Life as a Turkey”at 7pm
Based on the true story of writer and naturalist Joe Hutto, portrayed by wildlife photographer Jeff Palmer, this film chronicles Hutto’s remarkable experience of imprinting wild turkey eggs and raising the hatchlings to adulthood. Deep in the wilds of Florida, Hutto spent each day out and about as a “wild turkey” with his family of chicks — until the day came when he had to let his children grow up and go off on their own. As it turned out, this was harder than he ever imagined. Hutto’s story also became a book, “Illumination in the Flatlands.”“An Original DUCKumentary” at 8pm
Ducks fly through the air on short stubby wings — traveling in large, energy-efficient formations over thousands of miles. There are some 150 species of them, representing a wide variety of shapes, sizes and behaviors. Some are noisy and gregarious, others shy and elusive. They are familiar animals we think we know. But most of us don’t really know these phenomenal, sophisticated creatures at all. This program follows a wood duck family as a male and female create a bond, migrate together across thousands of miles, nurture and protect a brood of chicks, then come full circle as they head to their wintering grounds. “The Private Life of Deer” at 9pmFrom coast to coast, some 30 million white-tailed deer make their home in the United States. Deer are the most highly studied mammals in the world, but does the typical homeowner with deer in the yard know how long deer can live? When they sleep? How many babies a doe can have each year? Enter the hidden world of white-tailed deer outfitted with night-vision cameras and GPS tracking equipment to see them not as common backyard creatures, but as intelligent, affectionate family members.

Earthflight, A Nature Special Presentation
Wednesdays, October 2 & 9 at 7 pm
This series is a breathtaking voyage with the world’s birds, soaring across six continents, witnessing spectacular animal migrations and great natural wonders, swooping down to interact with life-and-death dramas on land and at sea. It employs state-of-the-art technology and sophisticated camera techniques to show the world from the amazing aerial perspective of a bird’s-eye view. The last two episodes take you to Asia and Australia and give you the behind-the-scenes look at how Earthflight was made.

Vamos al BalleTuesday, October 8 at 7 pm
A stellar lineup of Mexican-American musicians take the stage in front of a live audience. Enjoy performances by award winning artists Little Joe y La Familia, Ruben Ramos and the Mexican Revolution, and Joel Guzman with Sarah Fox plus special guests. Interspersed with interviews, Vamos al Baile (Let’s go to the Dance) captures the different styles of Mexican-American music and the family atmosphere of the dance halls in which they are performed.

The African Americans: Many Rivers To Cross(six-part series)Tuesdays, beginning October 22 at 7pm(series repeats Sundays at 2:30pm)
This series chronicles the full sweep of African American history, from the origins of slavery on the African continent through five centuries of historic events right up to present day — when America has a black President, yet remains a nation deeply divided by race. It explores the origins of the people from Africa whose enslavement led to the creation of the African American people, as well as the multiplicity of cultural institutions, political strategies, and religious and social perspectives that African Americans have developed against unimaginable odds. All of these elements define black culture and society in its extraordinarily rich and compelling diversity from slavery to freedom, from the plantation to the White House. Hosted by Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr., and drawing on some of America’s top historians and heretofore untapped primary sources, the series guides viewers on a journey across 500 years and two continents to shed new light on the experience of being an African American. This six-part series concludes on November 26th.

SESAME STREET will kick off its 44th season beginning September 16 at 7am daily.

The new season will launch with a funny new segment, “Cookie’s Crumby Pictures.” In each five-minute segment of “Cookie’s Crumby Pictures” children will learn many strategies and activities that promote the self-regulation curriculum. Additionally, Sesame Street viewers will get to watch the new Latino neighbor, “Armando,” played by actor Ismael Cruz Córdova. Other season highlights include new original songs and street stories; new “Elmo the Musical” segments; new animations and, as always, new hilarious spoofs and celebrity appearances!

We’re adding a new meaning to Labor Day for preschoolers: Neighbor Day. In what we hope will become an annual event, DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD will present “Neighbor Day,” a premiere episode, on Monday, September 2 at 10am. In this full half-hour special episode, Daniel learns how good it feels to be neighborly – and that one kind act can lead to many more.

A new game, “Tea Party,” is now available online. In this new game, children help Daniel set up and play tea party with his friends. The game helps kids practice important skills, such as taking turns and thinking about the needs of others.

Earthflight, A Nature Special Presentation
Wednesdays at 7 pm, starting September 4
This series is a breathtaking voyage with the world’s birds, soaring across six continents, witnessing spectacular animal migrations and great natural wonders, swooping down to interact with life-and-death dramas on land and at sea. It employs state-of-the-art technology and sophisticated camera techniques to show the world from the amazing aerial perspective of a bird’s-eye view. This six-part series concludes on October 9th.

Latino Americans(3-part, six-hour series)Tuesdays from 7:00-9:00 pm
starting September 17 – October 1(Series repeats on Sundays at 1:30 pm)Latino Americans is an epic history series narrated by Benjamin Bratt that chronicles the lives and experiences of Latinos in the United States from 1500 to the 21st century. Through its people, politics and culture, Latino Americans tells the story of early settlement, conquest and immigration; of tradition and reinvention; of anguish and celebration; and of the gradual construction of a new American identity from diverse sources that connects and empowers millions of people today. The series utilizes the accounts of historical figures and events as well as present-day interviews with nearly 100 Latinos—from best-selling authors, entrepreneurs and pop cultural celebrities to political leaders and everyday people, as well as historians and other experts.

NOVA #3913 “Secrets of the Viking Sword”
Wednesday, September 25 at 8 pm (encore presentation)The Vikings were among the fiercest warriors of all time. Yet only a select few carried the ultimate weapon of their era: the feared Ulfberht sword. Fashioned using a process that would remain unknown to the Vikings’ rivals for centuries, the Ulfberht was a revolutionary high-tech tool as well as a work of art. Considered one of the greatest swords ever made, it remains a fearsome weapon more than a millennium after it last saw battle. But how did Viking sword makers design and build the Ulfberht, and what was its role in history? Now, NOVA uses cutting-edge science and old-fashioned detective work to reconstruct the Ulfberht and finally unravel the mystery of the Viking sword.